Missed Opportunities Tell the Tale as Bears Trail Seahawks 10-7 at Halftime

Dec 2, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Earl Bennett (80) flips into the end zone to score a touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

The Bears trail the Seattle Seahawks 10-7 at the half at Soldier Field where missed opportunities cost the Bears at least 10 points.

The Bears opened the scoring, after they recovered a Marshawn Lynch fumble near midfield.  They cashed in with a beautiful play call on a bootleg pass to Earl Bennett.  Cutler spun around to his left to find a wide open Bennett who cartwheeled his way into the end zone.

On the Bears’ next drive, they marched the ball down inside the red zone but opted to go for it on 4th and 1 instead of taking a sure FG.  Michael Bush was stopped short and the Seahawks took over on downs.  I’m not disagreeing with going for it; that’s an easy armchair quarterback call. I’m questioning the play calling and calling on Michael Bush to keep his feet moving.  Bush clearly went airborne instead of dropping his shoulder and trying to pound it in for a yard.

The biggest disappointment of the half was a wide open Earl Bennett, who dropped a sure touchdown as he slipped behind the Seattle defender for what would have been a sure touchdown.  The sure handed Bennett, who is among the most sure handed receivers in the league, needs to bring that ball in.

In the meantime, Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall put on a clinic in the first half.  Marshall had 7 catches for 94 yards.

The Bears will need to come from behind to win this game, something they haven’t done well.